The Flavors of Southern Taiwan: A Delicious Journey Across Your Taste Buds

Taiwan, a paradise for food lovers, offers a variety of delicious cuisines across the north, center, and south. In Kaohsiung, you’ll find must-try street foods such as bento boxes, lu wei (braised dishes), roast chicken, and roast duck... Various popular snacks are must-try delights. The culinary capital of Fucheng is an obvious top choice for sampling great Taiwanese cuisine. Whether at traditional markets, temple-front snack stalls, or long-established shops, countless delicacies await food enthusiasts.

Lu wei and roast duck are among the most beloved local dishes in Kaohsiung. Ah Up Ha Lu Wei, located at Dagouding, is one of the most famous representatives of the many time-honored snack shops. Having been passed down to the third generation, it boasts over 50 years of history. A wide range of ingredients—including duck heads, duck wings, duck feet, and beans—are priced between NT$5 and NT$25. The business is known for its affordable prices and decades-long warmth and hospitality. Meanwhile, Yipin Lu Wei, established in 1985, is not only a famous eatery in the Xinjuejiang shopping district but also a go-to spot highly recommended by students. Having stood the test of 25 years, its nostalgic flavor remains unchanged—students studying in Kaohsiung will definitely stop by Yipin Lu Wei first. For those who enjoy icy lu wei, Pi Zi Wen Smoked Iced Lu Wei, which started in Xinjuejiang and expanded around Liouhe Night Market, is a rare specialty store in Kaohsiung dedicated solely to smoked lu wei and even holds an official registered trademark.

Chen’s Salted Duck from the former Lixincun, which follows the traditional Nanjing-style duck preparation method, selects fresh Fengshan ducks that have passed livestock inspections. Not only is the origin of the ducks carefully chosen, but their size is also meticulously selected. The salted and boiled duck meat has just the right level of saltiness—tender, fragrant, and sweet—even customers who don’t usually like duck will fall in love with the taste. The appeal of Renwu Roast Duck is so strong that people are willing to queue up from afar. There’s even a widely circulated online tip: “If you’re not patient enough to queue, don’t come.” The chef deftly slices the duck with a large blade, and the hot, glistening roast duck oozes juicy fat, releasing an aroma that is simply mouthwatering.

Tainan’s snack culture is closely tied to its traditional market life. From the Dong Market, Dacai Market, Yamuliao, Shuixian Temple, and Shakaliaba, which have developed since the Japanese colonial period, to the older generations’ favorite Yongle Market and Shijingjiu, almost all are hubs for Tainan street food. At Dacai Market, you’ll find Zheng Ji’s Homemade Fish Ball Soup, A Rui’s Yi Mian Wontons, and Jiangshui Hao’s Eight-Treasure Ice. At Yamuliao, there’s Wumiao Bowl Rice Noodles, Jiawu’s Pork Chop Rice, and Chuanwei Restaurant’s Oyster Vermicelli. In the morning, you can grab breakfast at Yongji’s Soy Milk and Fried Dough Sticks, or try A Jiu’s Rice Noodles and Dumplings. There are also Liuhe Night Market’s Xiao Bing Cuo and Qianyu’s Spicy Hot Pot. And let’s not forget about the old-fashioned braised pork rice and stinky tofu. The variety is so rich that it’s impossible for anyone not to find something they love.